54th Critérium du Dauphiné Libéré - 2.HC

France, June 9-16, 2002

Stage 2 - June 11: Tournon - Le Mont Ventoux, 174 km

Menchov strongest on Mont Ventoux

24 year old Russian cyclist Denis Menchov (iBanesto.com) has taken line honours
on the most feared climb in this year's Dauphine Libéré - Mont Ventoux, the
'Géant de Provence'. Menchov, winner of last year's Tour de l'Avenir, took Aitor
Kintana (BigMat) and another Tour de l'Avenir winner, Unai Osa (iBanesto), with
him to the summit. They finished in that order, with Menchov also taking the
leader's jersey.

The better known pre-race favourites lost time to the young trio, with the
likes of Andrei Kivilev, Haimar Zubeldia, and Lance Armstrong finishing 37 seconds
behind, with Christophe Moreau and Oscar Sevilla a little further back. It sets
the scene for an interesting battle in tomorrow's 41 kilometre time trial from
Montélimar to Pierrelatte.

There was absolutely no warm up as the riders departed Tournon-sur-Rhône at
11:45 this morning. Almost 55 kilometres were covered in the first hour, after
a barrage of attacks from riders hoping to get a headstart on the feared climb.
By kilometre 56, a group of 16 managed to get clear, including Cedric Vasseur
(Cofidis), Nicolas Jalabert (CSC), Viatcheslav Ekimov (USPS), Sylvain Chavanel
(Bonjour), Alexei Sivakov (Bigmat) and Baden Cooke (FDJ).

The group managed to get a maximum lead of 4'20, with Cooke taking both sprints
at Cairanne (km 116) and Vaison-la-Romaine (km 128.5). With 30 kilometres to
go, Sivakov attacked from the front group, and he was chased and caught by Vasseur
at Bedoin. They hit the foot of Ventoux with just a two minute lead on the peloton,
which was never going to be enough on the brutal climb.

Vasseur was riding well though, and with 10 km to go was joined by Felix Garcia
Casas and Aitor Kintana (BigMat), Unai Osa and David Latasa (iBanesto), who
had attacked from the main group with Armstrong, Sevilla, Kivilev and Moreau,
managing to obtain a 1'10 gap. 3 kilometres later, only Garcia Casas, Kintana
and Osa were left - a definite coup for BigMat, who are one of the few French
teams to be overlooked for the Tour de France.

Behind this trio, Oscar Sevilla tried to get away from the Armstrong group,
but was unsuccessful. Then in the move of the day, Denis Menchov attacked with
6 km to go to bridge to the leaders and win the stage in front of Kintana, Osa
and Garcia Casas. Menchov now has the yellow jersey by five seconds from Kintana,
and 10 seconds from Osa. However, the gaps are small enough to completely swing
around to Armstrong and Moreau's favour in tomorrow's 41 kilometre time trial.

After the stage, Menchov said, "I climbed in complete safety, as David Latasa
was in front. I was thinking more of the general classification than the stage
victory. I know the climb well past Bedoin. Mont Ventoux is a mythical place.
I felt very good. I attacked with 6 kilometres to go, without being the least
afraid I would pay for it."

"It will be difficult to defend the jersey tomorrow because I am not
among the great specialists against the clock. Nevertheless, I hope to improve
on my 7th place last year. I dedicate this win to my teammate Eladio Jimenez,
who had his femur operated on this morning."